Contributed by Anna Scott
Gourmet Expectations
In these tough economic times, it’s tempting to spend less on those everyday essentials. Which is entirely reasonable and fair and right. But when it comes to those special occasions, or even just a treat-for-no-good-reason-other-than-you-deserve-it-every-now-and-again, it’s worth spending a few pounds more on some top quality ingredients. And this is where places like Mortimer and Bennett come in very handy.
If you live in the area, it won’t come as a great surprise to know that there is a lovely little delicatessen on Turnham Green Terrace in Chiswick. It’s just that sort of street. On a road where you can find a shop devoted entirely to chocolate, one of west London’s best butchers, and a rather fine fishmonger, you’ll be pleased to know that there is an establishment that is proud to source the very best charcuterie and cheese you can find anywhere in the world. Just have a look at their website to get an idea of the quality on show.
When first entering the shop, the cheese counter dominates the space, so much so that I was completely entranced and stopped there and then to ask about their selection. I was recommended a very nice Pont L’Eveque after asking for a medium French cheese and ended up adding some Beenleigh Blue to my selection once I had spied their blue cheese counter and was offered a taste. The man serving was extremely helpful and friendly, and clearly knew his product well. In fact, I was so pleased with my service that I walked out of the shop in a cloud of contentment and completely forgot to buy any crackers or quince paste to go with my purchases (and I’m sure they have a great selection of both that I would have discovered, had I not got side-tracked by the cheese).
Mortimer and Bennett is a must visit for any west London foodie and it’s worth traveling from a bit further afield to experience some great customer service and product knowledge. It’s a fantastic place to stock up on those little extras, and they’ve even got boxes of homemade mince pies sitting right by the till. If I was a mince pie fan (which I’m not, unfortunately), I’m sure I might have snapped up a few before I left, because they looked like they might have tempted even the most committed of mice pie haters.
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